Richard E. Hughes
Richard E. Hughes, born Leo Rosenbaum (November 5, 1909 - January 15, 1974)[1] was an American writer and editor of comic books. He was editor of the American Comics Group through the company's entire existence from 1943 to 1967, and wrote most of that publisher's stories from 1957 to 1967 under a variety of pseudonyms. His best-known character is Herbie Popnecker, created under the pseudonym Shane O'Shea,[2] with artist Ogden Whitney.
Biography
Richard E. Hughes graduated from New York University in 1930 with a Bachelor of Arts degree as an English major and Economics minor.[3] He married his wife, Annabel, on January 19, 1935.[4] By 1940, Hughes was working in sales at Standard Mirror and Metal Products in New York City, writing catalog copy,[5] and had also begun writing for publisher Ned Pines' Standard Comics. There he and artist Alexander Kostuk created the superhero Doc Strange (no relation to Marvel Comics' much later Doctor Strange) in Thrilling Comics #1 (cover-dated Feb. 1940).[6][7] The following year, Hughes was working for the Syndicated Features Corporation, and in early 1941 he and artist Dave Gabrielson created the superhero the Black Terror in Standard's Exciting Comics #9 (May 1941).[8][7] By 1942, Hughes was editing comics for Standard[7] and living with his wife at 120 West 183rd Street in The Bronx, New York City.[4]
Shortly thereafter, he became an editor at American Comics Group (AGC) on titles including the funny-animal series Giggle Comics and Ha Ha Comics, the teen-humor titles Cookie and The Kilroys and others, although he continued editing Standard's Coo Coo Comics at least sporadically through at least 1949.[7]
Hughes died on January 15, 1974, of myelofibrosis.[3]
Hughes's pseudonyms
- Pierre Alonzo[9]
- Ace Aquila
- Brad Everson[9]
- Lafcadio Lee[9]
- Kermit Lundgren[9]
- Shane O'Shea[2] (for Nemesis, drawn by Pete Costanza, and Herbie, drawn by Ogden Whitney)
- Greg Olivetti[9]
- Kurato Osaki[10]
- Pierce Rand[11]
- Bob Standish[9]
- Zev Zimmer[12] (for Magicman, drawn by Pete Costanza)
Pictures of Hughes' Pseudonyms
In Unknown Worlds (ACG 1960-1967),[13] story and art credits for the first 22 issues were accompanied by drawings of the contributors. Because almost all stories were written by the same writer, the pictures for the story credit were mostly fictitious.
References
- ^ Vance, Michael. "'Something...? A Study of Comics Pioneer Richard E. Hughes". Alter Ego. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 46–47.
- ^ a b Herbie at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
- ^ a b Vance, Michael (1996). Forbidden Adventures: The History of the American Comics Group. Greenwood Press. p. 43. ISBN 0-313-29678-2.
- ^ a b Vance, Alter Ego, p. 47
- ^ Vance, p. 44
- ^ Thrilling Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b c d Richard Hughes and Richard E. Hughes at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Exciting Comics #9 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b c d e f Vance, Forbidden, p. 119
- ^ Vance, p. 54
- ^ Vance, Forbidden, p. 118
- ^ Vance, Forbidden, pp. 90, 119
- ^ Unknown Worlds at the Grand Comics Database
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